Exercise is the Killer Productivity App

Just about every day, even when I don’t feel like it, like today when I have a cold, I put on my ugly gray sweat pants and go downstairs to put in 20 minutes on my elliptical trainer. When I arrive at my desk afterward, the edge is off and my ability to concentrate is improved dramatically. Paired with a short planning session, during which I identify what will make my day a success, I find that I am far more able to focus on what’s important, screen out self-generated distractions, and stay on task.

There is a growing body of evidence showing that exercise increases a sense of positive well-being. It stands to reason that as you feel better about yourself, you sense of self-efficacy (meaning your own ability to be effective) should also increase. To take advantage of this simple, inexpensive productivity tool, just get out of your chair and take a walk. When you feel your concentration slipping in the middle of the day, and you start craving email to entertain yourself, try some exercise instead. You’ll be amazed at how much more productive you can be when you take time for yourself, too.

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